Dameron and TeamAppointments: (602) 992-1384

Brett Dameron D.D.S.

Dameron and Team

Phoenix area cosmetic dentistry at Dameron and Team can produce amazingly natural-looking results! You can have a bright, healthy new smile after just one or two sessions with Brett Dameron, D.D.S.. It's faster and more affordable than you may think.

At Dameron and Team we offer a range of treatment options for sleep apnea. If snoring or obstructed breathing is a problem, call Dr. Dameron today to learn how we can help you breathe easier.

Left untreated, sleep apnea can cause serious health problems, so contact us now to schedule an examination.

Don't let untreated dental problems get you down. Rebuild your confidence with a beautiful new smile. From simple treatments that make a big difference, to more extensive work, unveiling the smile you were meant to have can have profound life-changing effects. Serving the Phoenix, AZ area and offering general dentistry, Dr. Dameron can help you develop an affordable treatment plan you'll feel good about.

A negative self image can be detrimental to many facets of your life. Phoenix area dentist Dr. Brett Dameron understands the positive life-changing power that a healthy and beautiful smile can bring to you. Here at Dameron and Team, we don't want you to be embarrassed any longer. Why not take your smile - and even your life - to a new level of self-confidence and beauty?

If you want a gorgeous smile that turns heads, you may want to learn about the range of dental services offered at Dameron and Team. Phoenix area cosmetic dentist Dr. Brett Dameron is dedicated to producing quality results and beautiful smiles.

Request an Appointment With Dameron and Team

Prescott Dental CenterAppointments: (928) 445-2440

James Spurgeon D.D.S.

Prescott Dental Center

Dr. James Spurgeon has a gentle touch and provides comfortable cleaning for a whiter smile. Offering general dentistry in the Prescott, Arizona area, Dr. Spurgeon assures you that a bright, healthy smile is the result of regular, preventative, professional dental cleanings.

A negative self image can be detrimental to many facets of your life. Prescott area dentist Dr. James Spurgeon understands the positive life-changing power that a healthy and beautiful smile can bring to you. Here at Prescott Dental Center, we don't want you to be embarrassed any longer. Why not take your smile - and even your life - to a new level of self-confidence and beauty?

If you suffer from dental anxiety in the Prescott area, Dr. Spurgeon can help. We offer several options that can make your dental treatments pleasant and stress-free. Our team at Prescott Dental Center is trained to help you feel comfortable. You'll be able to feel relaxed while receiving the friendly, professional oral care you deserve.

Don't let untreated dental problems get you down. Rebuild your confidence with a beautiful new smile. From simple treatments that make a big difference, to more extensive work, unveiling the smile you were meant to have can have profound life-changing effects. Serving the Prescott, AZ area and offering general dentistry, Dr. Spurgeon can help you develop an affordable treatment plan you'll feel good about.

Prescott Dental Center is a trusted Prescott area dental implants practice providing natural-looking, comfortable tooth replacement. We make it our mission to use a gentle touch during the process.

We hold ourselves to the highest standards to replace missing teeth and provide you with natural-looking results. Our goal is to restore your confidence and your bright, healthy smile.

Request an Appointment With Prescott Dental Center

Tempe Smile DesignAppointments: (480) 829-8200

Stacy Tracy D.D.S.

Tempe Smile Design

Would you like your smile to be a bit brighter than it is right now? We can make it happen at Tempe Smile Design, with professional tooth whitening for brighter natural looking teeth. Dr. Stacy Tracy's Tempe, AZ area office can effectively lighten your stained or discolored tooth enamel. Whiter teeth not only look great, they improve your self-confidence.

Tempe area cosmetic dentist Stacy Tracy, D.D.S. has extensive experience creating beautiful smiles. They're one of the first things people notice about you.

Our professional team will be happy to discuss your aesthetic dentistry options. The attractive results you'll get from Tempe Smile Design can change your life!

You're unique, and you deserve quality, individualized care. Dr. Stacy Tracy believes your dental experience should blend the best of the personal and the professional. At Tempe Smile Design in the Tempe, Arizona area, we take the time to get to know you and understand your dental needs. Dr. Tracy and her staff are dedicated to providing you with top-quality dental care designed exclusively for you.

At Tempe Smile Design, we accept several types of dental insurance. With the proper information, Dr. Tracy and his staff will be happy to file your insurance claim for you. We strive to make the insurance paperwork process as simple and streamlined as possible. You are only personally responsible for the co-pay or deductible amount.

If you want a gorgeous smile that turns heads, you may want to learn about the range of dental services offered at Tempe Smile Design. Tempe area cosmetic dentist Dr. Stacy Tracy is dedicated to producing quality results and beautiful smiles.

Diabetics must pay special attention to the following conditions related to oral health:

Tooth Decay

High glucose levels in saliva help bacteria to thrive, repeatedly attacking teeth with cavity-causing acids. Brushing at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and flossing daily is vital.

Gum Disease

Diabetes reduces the body's resistance to infection and gum tissues are frequently affected. Diabetics may experience more frequent and severe cases of periodontal disease. See your dentist if you notice any of these symptoms: your gums are tender, red, swollen, or bleed easily; your gums have pulled away from the teeth; or you notice any pus between the teeth and gums when the gums are pressed. Other indicators are chronic bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth; any changes in your bite or fit of partial dentures; or permanent teeth that become loose. Since diabetes can impair the healing process, abscesses can develop, so it is important to schedule regular periodontal exams.

Oral Fungal Infections

People with high glucose levels who smoke or frequently take antibiotics are more prone to develop oral candidiasis, or thrush. This is a condition where white or red patches in the mouth become ulcerated and attack the tongue with a painful, burning sensation. Swallowing can be difficult and your ability to taste can be impaired. Antifungal medications can be prescribed by your dentist.

Taste Impairment

A diminished sense of taste can influence food choices. Diabetics have reported that their perception of sweetness is lessened. As a result, selecting sweet-tasting, refined carbohydrate foods puts diabetics at greater risk for developing both general health and dental problems.

Dry Mouth: Diabetic patients often complain about dry mouth due to salivary gland dysfunction related to the disease. Constant dryness irritates the soft tissues causing inflammation and pain. It can also increase the likelihood of tooth decay and gum disease.

Saliva substitutes available in pharmacies can relieve discomfort. Sugarless gum, sugarless mints, and drinking plenty of water also are useful in combating dry mouth. Additionally, restrict consumption of caffeine and alcohol.

Mouth Lesions

Pimple-like sores, generally painless, dot the mouth tissues. In a more severe condition, the tissue becomes painfully ulcerated. No permanent cure is available, but your dentist can prescribe medication to relieve the condition.

Since diabetics are more prone to conditions that jeopardize oral health, regular dental check-ups and periodontal screenings are essential. More frequent evaluations may be needed to ensure optimum oral health.

Bad breath, or halitosis, is a signal that something is not right inside your mouth. It may be as simple as the need to pay more attention to your daily oral hygiene, or it may indicate tooth decay, gum disease, or another medical problem. Whichever it is, bad breath is a red flag: take another look at your mouth!

Bad breath is a social problem; if you have bad breath, you may notice that people actually back away as you talk to them. Mouth odors are embarrassing, and they tell other people that you aren't taking care of yourself. Sometimes people are not aware that their breath smells bad; be alert to how other people react when they're close to you, and be grateful if a friend or family member lets you know about the problem.

Commercial products claim they will make your breath fresher, but the only way to make sure your breath permanently fresh is to practice good oral hygiene. In fact, too many breath mints and hard candies with sugar will lead to tooth decay. If you are constantly using breath mints, breath sprays, or mouth rinses in an effort to cover up your bad breath, realize that you may have a dental or medical problem that needs addressing.

There are a number of reasons you may experience a bad taste in your mouth, and even be able to smell your own breath. Food may be lodged between your teeth if you are not brushing at least twice daily and flossing regularly. Food particles can be very tiny and can wedge themselves between teeth and below the gum line; brushing after meals is important and flossing is imperative to get at the particles that the brush can't reach. Brush your tongue or use a tongue scraper. As odd as it will feel at first, bacteria collects on the tongue and can contribute to bad breath. If you wear removable dentures, take them out at night and clean them thoroughly before you wear them again.

If you neglect your daily hygiene over time, bad breath can become a symptom of more serious dental problems. Teeth that are not cleaned properly become a place for bacteria to reside as food particles stay in your mouth and decay. Bacteria attack your teeth and gums and cause cavities and gum disease. If this is happening, gum disease will cause an unpleasant odor.

Perhaps you believe that you are brushing and flossing on a regular basis, but are still experiencing bad breath. If you have teeth that are crooked or crowded, it may be hard for you to clean between them. If you wear dentures that are not fit properly, they may be trapping food or irritating your mouth. Or perhaps your bad breath is caused by another medical problem: drainage from your sinuses, gastrointestinal problems, kidney or liver problems, or other medical conditions.

Here's what you can do to "investigate" on your own. Write down what you're eating and notice whether your breath smells bad because of certain foods. Garlic and onions actually cause odor, but the odor is coming from your lungs as you breathe, not from your mouth itself. The odor from these foods is temporary, and will be gone once the food is out of your bloodstream.

Are you dieting? Hunger can contribute to bad breath, because of the chemical changes as your body turns fat and protein into the energy it needs. Taking prescription or over-the-counter medications? Add these to the record of what you're eating to see whether there's a relationship between your medications and your bad breath. And don't forget to tell your dentist if there's been a change in your overall health since your last visit.

Suffering from dry mouth? Saliva provides constant rinsing in our mouths and washes away food particles. Your dentist may recommend more liquids, sugarless candy to stimulate natural saliva, and perhaps some of the commercial products that are available to combat dry mouth.

If bad breath continues after you have done your best job of regular brushing and flossing, start with your dentist. He or she can tell you whether the odor is caused by an oral problem; if it is not, then your dentist will suggest you see your doctor for a physical check-up.

Regular dental check-ups will help keep your mouth healthy and working well. Your dentist can spot dental problems before they cause trouble, including problems that cause bad breath.

By Brian J. Gray, DDS, MAGD, FICO

Sterilization of Dental Equipment

The times are trying enough without having to worry about a visit to the dentist. There is much talk about the transmission of disease in any given medical environment. Well, we're here to say dentistry in our practice still is a safe and healthful experience. And it's not just a matter of trust.

It took the AIDS epidemic to bring it to the public eye. But we've been guarding against it at our dental office since the day we opened our doors.

I'm talking about communicable disease. AIDS is the one you hear most about, but there are others. A quiet new killer (HCV, hepatitis C virus) currently infects about four million Americans who will never be able to rid themselves of it. Here at the office we're also aware that hepatitis B, tuberculosis, influenza-even the common cold-are communicable. The good news is that the same strict standards of asepsis (cleanliness) we use against one disease also defend us against all the others.

You may not be aware of all we do to ensure your protection from cross-communicated viruses during your dental care. In fact, it's a large part of our day, and we're committed to the task.

We use disposable items wherever we can. Every surface in the operatory is secured against airborne bacteria with physical barriers. Our sterilization procedures are complex, monitored by an outside agency, and, not incidentally, much more than OSHA, the American Dental Association, the Centers for Disease Control, and local agencies require.

Metal instruments are cleansed in an ultrasonic bath before autoclaving in chemical pressurized heat. Hand pieces, for instance (you know them as drills), take an hour's preparation-heat-treated then cooled-for each patient. We disinfect everything in sight.

All this costs, but it's worth it.

We wouldn't be here if we didn't care about you, your health, and your good looks. We want you to feel comfortable, all the time. Please ask about our sterilization program and we'll be more than happy to show you what we're doing.

You know we care about open communication in our dental office. This letter is another way we hope to show it.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.